The Soul of John Black

 

Soul Salvation

Yellow Dog Records

The Soul of John Black is an American alternative soul, blues, and rock persona created by John Arthur Bigham. Bigham was previously a  member of the ska-funk band ‘Fishbone’ and worked with Miles Davis, and ‘Everlast’. His debut album was self-titled and issued in 2002. Bigham followed with a different self-titled release in 2003 on the No Mayo label. NPR named the track “Scandalous (No.9)” one of the best of the year. In 2007 Bigham released the “Good Girl Blues” on Yellow Dog combining blues with elements from jazz, hip-hop, rock n’ roll, and other styles.

“Black John” followed in 2009. Since then Bigham has released three more albums on Yellow Fog; two in 2011 “Good Thang”, and “The Soul of Christmas”; in 2012 he issued “A Sunshine State of Mind”. The Indie release “Early in the Moanin'”, I love that title, was completed in 2016.  The Soul of John Black was nominated for at least three Independent  Music Awards winning for Best Blues Song in 2012; and again for Best  R n’ B/Soul song in 2014. All of the songs on “Soul Salvation” were  written by Bigham, who plays all of the instruments and sings all the  vocals.

The lead-off track “Begging You Baby” is described as Bigham’s ode to the blues. Bigham had Albert King in mind and recorded with just bass, drums, and a Fender amp, to get that old-school sound. He  added some ambience to give the production a swirling cinematic feel on this take on timeless blues, as Bigham sings “I’m begging you baby, oh, please don’t go”. “Georgia Peaches” is based on a  true story from when Bigham went down South during high school.  His nephews in Atlanta had been playing this music with storytelling,  and Bigham channeled Johnny Taylor’s narrative and fun danceable  style, as he chimed “I love your Georgia Peaches…I love Georgia Peaches”.

“Take Your Time” is a classic Memphis Stax production like Wilson  Pickett’s “In The Midnight Hour”, as Bigham chants “Take your time,  get it right…you know it’s gonna take some time, get it right…I want  it like the time we first met…if you just take your time, get it right”.  “Come And Get It”, is Bigham’s version of Mavis’ Staples’ style as  he spent a lot of time studying the Staple Singers, featuring some  great guitar, as Bigham bursts “Come and get it, it’s all yours…any  time you wanna do, come and get it, it’s all yours…I just want to  make you smile, can I hold you for awhile”.

“Been Gone Too Long” is a pure Cadillac riding song, like those on Albert King’s “I Wanna Get Funky” album, as Bigham belts out “Time is creepin’, never mind that I’m leavin your world…you’ve been gone too long…you can bet all your lovin…I’m leavin’, been gone too long”. “That Thang” is Bigham’s New Orleans Mardi Gras moment. A party hearty song, reminding me of “Hand Jive” with a ‘call and response’  as Bigham cries “I say who…that’s right…I say who, who, who, that’s right…shakin’ that thang…I say who”, with some harmonica.

“Right Now” was inspired by a relationship sung from the female perspective “If there ever was a time to say that you love me, baby, it would be right now…right now, if there was a time you could look  into my eyes and tell me you love me,baby, it would be right now”.  Bigham’s guitar interacting with the rhythm’s strong foundation. On “Get Closer” Bigham brings the Southern energy of an Eddie  Kendricks tune but without the falsetto as Bigham shouts “Don’t you  wanta get closer, baby…tonight, don’t you want to get closer…lying  next to me, don’t you want to get closer”.

Bigham suggests “The First Time” is about “if you’re lucky enough to  dance with the girl you really want to be with”. I am reminded of the  Ewan MacColl classic “The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face”,  further popularized by Roberta Flack, as Bigham chirps “The first  time I saw you, when you walked by, you were all I could see, a  vision, the first time I saw you…our wedding day, flying through my  mind, cause I knew I would fall in love with you”. On the closer,  “Saving It All For You”, a send-off jam as Bigham shares his  thoughts as he croons “I’m gonna cook for you tonight, something  for two, when you come home tonight…saving it all for you, babe”,  as he says “goodbye, see you next time”.

“Soul Salvation” follows The Soul of John Black’s critically  acclaimed catalog that has earned him praise from Rolling Stone,  The New Yorker, The Wall Street Journal and NPR, with nominations  from the Blues Music Awards and Independent Music Awards.  Embracing his musical lineage while incorporating contemporary  influences, Bigham has created a fresh take on traditional sounds  that both preserve the past and light the way forward.

Richard Ludmerer

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